ARTICLES ABOUT WAIVER BY DATE - PAGE 5

After winning the championship of the National Premier Soccer League in their inaugural season, the Pennsylvania Stoners aren't about to sit idly by and soak in the glory. The team will be having tryouts for the 2009 squad on Jan. 5-6 at Iron Lakes Sports Club. The tryouts, which will be at 1 p.m. both days inside the club's domed facility, cost $35 for players not rostered by the club in 2008. Participants are required to fill out an activity release and a liability waiver. For more information, visit the team Web site at www.pennstoners.

By Lisa Price Special to The Morning Call - Freelance | November 26, 2008

A builder is proposing turning a former store in Tamaqua into 13 housing units for students at Lehigh Carbon Community College's branch in the borough. LCCC has no official housing at its main campus in Schnecksville nor at any of its branch campuses, and LCCC says the plan by Frank Atkinson of Weatherly has no college affiliation. But Atkinson on Monday appeared before the Tamaqua Zoning Hearing Board to seek a variance to put apartments in the four-story former Newberry's building at 43-45 Broad St. Atkinson's application shows commercial space on the building's first floor, and a two-bedroom apartment and three single dorm rooms on each of the building's top three floors designated specifically for LCCC students.

By Kelly Martin Special to The Morning Call - Freelance | November 20, 2008

A plan to build 22 homes next to Route 22 and Springhouse Road has moved one step closer to reality. The Board of Commissioners Wednesday granted two waivers of township ordinances to Posh Properties for its proposed Springhouse Ridge subdivision. The developer wants to build the homes along a 2,000-foot-long cul-de-sac off Springhouse Road. South Whitehall's ordinances limit the number of homes in a cul-de-sac to 15, as well as the length of the road. Now that the waivers have been granted, the developer can bring the plan to South Whitehall's planning commission for a formal review, said the developer's attorney, Jim Broughal.

In Quakertown, there will be no free ride for the Bucks County Covered Bridge Society -- or, for that matter, for many nonprofit groups looking for a favor. Citing legal concerns, Borough Council rejected a request from the society to use the borough's band shell for free for an East Rockhill Township celebration of the restoration of a bridge. But Quakertown's interpretation of the rules may not be the standard, experts in state law say. It's not unusual for governments to waive fees for citizens groups seeking to use their halls or equipment.

Allentown's Sacred Heart Hospital has been granted a rare exception to state health regulations to once again offer its patients the coronary artery-opening catheter procedures known as angioplasties. To do so, the center-city Catholic hospital had to be accepted into a multi-center study run by Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, and reach an agreement with a nearby hospital that could provide emergency surgery, if needed. Sacred Heart did both, partnering with Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest.

By Charles Malinchak Special to The Morning Call - Freelance | February 21, 2008

A development that would convert more than 100 acres of farmland along Route 313 in Hilltown Township into an age-restricted housing development crept forward Monday night when township planners, at the builder's request, agreed to waive several township requirements. Langhorne-based developer McGrath Homes was allowed a reduction in driveway widths, distances between the development's more than $3 million clubhouse and the length of the roads within the complex. McGrath intends to put 67 buildings on 107 acres of the 182-acre site that intersects Minsi Trail.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell on Thursday lambasted the Environmental Protection Agency's decision last month denying California's petition to limit greenhouse gases from cars and trucks. "The assertions by the administrator just don't make sense," Rendell said in testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, referring to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. "California's standards are reasonable, they make sense, they're more effective and we should use them."

By Ashley Kosciolek Special to The Morning Call - Freelance | December 12, 2007

Penn Forest Township supervisors approved plans for a proposed coffee shop, but denied waivers on a proposed bed-and-breakfast. Last week, supervisors granted Joseph Puddu waivers so he can convert a former residence at Route 903 and Danner Road into a shop that will also serve, cappuccino, muffins, croissants and a variety of other pastries and beverages. The township Planning Commission two weeks ago recommended preliminary final approval for Puddu. Puddu said the shop wouldn't be a full-time restaurant or have a commercial kitchen, and baking would not take place on-site.

The Philadelphia Phillies claimed left-hander Shane Youman off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates today. Youman, 28, split last season between Pittsburgh and Triple-A Indianapolis. He went 3-5 with a 5.97 ERA in 16 games (eight) starts with the Pirates. He has a 5.13 ERA in 21 career major league appearances (11 starts), all of which came with Pittsburgh. With the pickup of Youman, the Phillies have 39 players on their 40-man roster. Stephen Miller

I can see all the fantasy magazines getting their cover shot set up for next year. Minnesota's Adrian Peterson is the new fantasy coverboy after last week's performance against a once highly touted Bears defense. Peterson ran 20 times for 224 yards and three touchdowns against a Chicago defense that has fallen from grace. Peterson, who ran for his third straight 100-yard game, is the lone bright spot for the Vikings. He has a tough matchup this week against a Dallas Cowboys defense that is giving up just 79.7 yards per game on the ground, but Peterson is a must-start.